A study by Vehapoglu and colleagues evaluated serum concentrations of the novel adipokines, vaspin, apelin, and visfatin in underweight children and determined their relationship with anthropometric and nutritional markers of malnutrition.

Investigators enroled 44 underweight prepubertal children, with youngest age of 2 years, with thinness grades of 1, 2, and 3, and body weights < 90% of ideal body weight. These children were suffering from loss of appetite and less frequent hunger episodes. The study also included 41 healthy age- and gender-matched controls in the trial. Enzyme immunoassay technique was used to measure serum fasting vaspin, apelin, and visfatin concentrations.

The results demonstrated that mean vaspin (0.44 ± 0.18 vs. 0.58 ± 0.35 pg/mL) and apelin (483.37 ± 333.26 vs. 711.71 ± 616.50 pg/mL) levels were remarkably lower in underweight children in contrast to controls. Although, visfatin levels were lower in underweight children than those in controls, the values were statistically insignificant (177.81 ± 158.01 vs. 221.15 ± 212.94 pg/mL).

Thus, the study concluded that reduced levels of adipokines, such as vaspin and apelin, can be regarded in the etiology of loss of appetite and less frequent hunger episodes in underweight children.

Source: Vehapoglu A, Ustabas F, Ozgen TI, Terzioglu S, Cermik BB, Ozen OF. Role of circulating adipocytokines vaspin, apelin, and visfatin in the loss of appetite in underweight children: a pilot trial. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2015;28(9-10):1065-1071.